Regional fire crews help with Potter County wildfire
Austin Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD) detailed their efforts, along with other regional fire companies and ambulance services, in battling a weekend wildfire in Wharton Township, Potter County
The details of the event were provided on the AVFD’s Facebook page.
On Saturday at 6:27 p.m. AVFD Station 44 was dispatched for a wildfire with the following units responding: Chief 44-10 (J. Burgett), Captain 44 (A. Bothell), Patrol 44-4 / 44-14 with Chief 44-30 (S. Hostetlar), Tanker 44-5 with Lt.44 (S. Foringer), Ambulance 44-6 with Chief 44-60 (T. Orlowski) and Chief 44-70 (S. Orlowski), Rescue 44-8, and Patrol 44-24.
Responding units were soon met by large amounts of smoke covering the area. Chief 44-10 (J. Burgett) was first on scene reporting large wildfire on the opposite side of the river moving quickly uphill, establishing Austin Command.
Command requested Department of Conversation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and brush trucks from Station 48 in Coudersport, Company 14 in Emporium and Company 16 in Sinnemahoning.
Manpower deployed to the right flank and worked to establish a fire line and extinguish fire. Tanker 44-5 staged. Ambulance 44-6 set up rehab and accountability. Rescue crew provided traffic control. Patrol 4424 deployed manpower to Pine Island Drive to get ahead of the fire and worked to establish fire lines and extinguish fire.
A short time later command requested availability of an air drop, an additional brush truck from McKean County and notified National Fuel as the fire was nearing their well area. Command was notified that air drop was unavailable to this fire, but a dozer and additional rangers were en route. Command also requested a brush truck and manpower from Roulette. Additional fire police responded from Emporium.
Crews worked the fire in high temperatures and steep incline for over four hours. The exact size of the fire was unknown at the time, but is estimated at well over 20 acres.
At 10:59 p.m. command reported scene turned over to DCNR with all units returning.
Local emergency personnel including Crystal Fire Department’s Engine 1 were among units who responded to a UTV accident at 7:53 p.m. in the borough of Driftwood. AVFD’s ambulance was diverted from the wildfire to respond to the accident where they were the first on scene. An ambulance from Company 49 in Coudersport was requested to cover the fire scene. A utility unit from Emporium also cleared the fire scene to assist.
The accident involved two patients, one possibly in need of land rescue, which was eventually deemed unnecessary. Upon arrival personnel immediately requested two medical evacuation helicopters be deployed to the scene with Stat 6 and Stat 11 responding.
Ambulances from Austin and Emporium both transported patients to the landing zone setup in the borough of Driftwood. The scene was secured by fire engines from Karthaus and St. Marys along with a utility truck from Emporium and personnel from Sinnemahoning.
Both helicopters landed and departed safely. The scene was then cleared with the AVFD ambulance returning to the wildfire scene.
Later that night at 11:44 p.m. the AVFD ambulance and fire personnel responded to a third call consisting of a medical emergency in Keating Township.
“A huge thank you all our mutual aid companies who assisted, and those moved up to cover other stations,” as was stated on the post. “Also a big thank you goes out to the local community members, Austin Baseball Association, Perry’s Store and Austin VFW for donating food and ice for our responders! And to all our members who cooked and brought drinks to the scene.”